Collapsible shipping container



Oct. 17, 1933. H. L. sMrrH CQLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed May 14,1931 2 Sheets-Shem Howard -zW iicompact bundle for return shipping,thereby en- Patented Oct. 17, 1933.

ITED STATES,

PATENT- OFFICE This invention relates to a collapsible shippingcontainer and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, an article of such class which may be folded in acouraging the reuse of shipping containers and consequently tending toconserve timber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of thecharacter aforesaid which may be made in a variety of shapesas occasionmay require for such uses as poultry coops, egg crates, fruit crates,hogsheads and the like, and which includes an even number of side wallsections locked together-and further locked as a unit to a the inventionconsists of the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as herein after more particularlydescribed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein isshown an embodiment of the invention, .but it is to becunderstood thatthe drawings and'the description are to be considered as illustrativerather than limitative.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the several views: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective of a container cordance with this'invention.Figure 2lis a bottom plan thereof. a a

in acsubstantially ,on

Figure 1. t v V a Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken substantiallyon the line indicated at 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantiall on the line indicatedat 55 in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a bottom plan of the top section.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on theline indicated at 7-7 in Figure1.-

Figure, 8 is a fragmentary perspective ofa side wall section. r 1

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective of another 7 side wall sectionshown in Figure 9.

' Figure 12 is a plan of the containershowing the Figure 3'is a verticalsection therethrough taken:

the line 'indicated at -3-3 'of- 1 relation to the upper edge thereof,the part 10 parts thereof in knockdown relation for return shipping. 7 v

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein by way of example is shown acontainer of rectangular construction, the numeral 1 indicates acpair-ofside wall sections which are alternately arranged and locked withrespect to another pair La a of side wall sections 2, the sections 1and'2 being looked as a unit with p ct to a top section 3 and a bottomsection 4. w

construction, formed of wood or-metal and provided on its lower face andadjacent its ends with a pair of transversely extending reinforcingstrips 5'. Midway between the ends thereof, the section 4 is provided onits lower face with a similar reinforcing strip 6. .In spacedrelation toeach end'of each, of the strips 5, and 6 is an opening 1 '7 whichextends therethrough and intothejbottom section 4. l

' Each of the side, wall sections 1 as shown is in the form of arectangle, formed, of wood or metal, and provided adjacent the ends withan upright reinforcing member, post or corner piece 8 consisting of apair of angularly disposed parts 9, and'lO. gThe lowerends of the parts9 and 10 arebent inwardly in overlapping relation asindicated at 11 forsupporting the bottom section 4 at the corners of the latter.. The part9 is rigidly connected with the section 1 in a manner to space thepart-lofrom the'endface ofthe section 1. The parts 9 and 10 are arrangedwith their upper edges flush with the upper edge of l the section 1, thepart 9 being provided with an ear 12 extending across the upper-face ofthe sectionland rigidly secured thereto. In spaced is formed with a slot13. In spacedv relation to the top and bottom of the memebr 8, thelatter is formed at'the'line of joinder ofthe parts 9 and 10 with a pairof lugs 14 which are pressed i the parts 9 and 10 are formed withopenings 15 7 The bottom section 4 as shown is of rectangular which: areadapted to be brought into registry with the openings 7 in thereinforcing strips 5 of the bottom section 4. .Midway between the endsof each side wall section 1 is an upright reinforcing strip 16 which isrigidly secured to the outer face of the section. The strip 16 hasitsupper end 17 projected above the upper edge of the section and isprovided in its projecting portion.

with a transverse opening 18. The lower end of 1 4 the strip 16 isbentinwardly as indicated at l9 and is formed with an opening 20 which isadapted to be brought into registry with one of the openings '7 in thestrip 6 of the bottom section 4.

Each of the side wall sections 2 as shown is arranged in spaced relationto the lower edgeof At the ends thereof, the strips ,22 which thesection. are formed with depending tongues 2 project downwardly into therecesses 21 in spaced relation to the side walls of the latter. The topsection 3 includes a pair of comple mentary parts 24 which are ofrectangular construction as shown, and preferably formed of wood. Theparts 24 are providedon'thei'r lower faces with hinges 25 connectingthem together, and are provided on their upper faces with a'reinforcingstrip 26 which is rigidly secured to one of the parts 24 and whichextends across the hinge line between the parts 24. vThe end portions 27of the strips 26 project beyond the sides of the sections 3 and areprovided with slots 28 for the reception therethrough of the endportions 1'7- of the strips 16 when the container is assembled.Extending transversely across the lower face of each part 24, adjacentthe outer edge of the latter; is a reinforcing strip 29 which isprovided with a. pair of longitudinally extend- The tongues 30 of thestrips 29 10 of the upright members 8. I

When the parts of the container are assembled, the bottom section 4 issupported by the lower end portions 11 of the upright members 8 and bythe lower end portions 19 of the strips 16. The portions 19 of thestrips 16 are secured with respect to the strip 6 by'means ofsuitablestuds 31- extending through the aligned openings 20 and '7 inthe portions 19 and strip 6 respectively.

In large containers, similar studs preferably will be inserted throughthe aligned openings 15 and 17 in the portions 11 and strips 5'respectively,

although these latter studs may be omitted if desired. The side wallsections 2 are locked with respect to the sections l-by the extension ofthe tongues 23 through the lugs 14 pressed from the uprights 8. The topsection 3 is locked with respect to the side wall sections 1 by theinsertion of the tongues 30 through the slots 13, and by the insertionof the end portions 17 of the strips 16 through the slots 28 in thestrip 26. Suitable,

keepers, such as 32, may be extended through the openings 18 to preventdisplacement of the strip 26 with respect to the strips 16. The endportions'of the top section 3 extend across the upper edges of the sidewall sections 2 to prevent removal of the tongues 23iwith respect to.thelugs 14.

It will be seen from reference to Figure 12 that the upright members 8may be disposed with'su'ch members of one of the sections 1 in abuttingrelation with respect to such -members of the other section '1' forembracing the sections 2, 3 and 4 when the container is knocked down for.be understood that the container may; be of any other shape wherein theside walls'of the container are divisible by two, such as a hexagon oroctagon. Likewise the container may be of circular constructionbyforming the side walls of the container of an even number of segments.

What I claim is:

1. A shipping container comprising, a first set of side wall sections,angular upright posts at the side edges of and of greater height thansaid wall sections, a second set of side wall sections alternatelyarranged with respect to the wall sections of the first named set, meansfor latching the side edges of. said second set to said posts, a bottomsection, projections on the wall sections of said first set forsupporting the bottom section, a top section, and spaced means extendedfrom each end of said top section and through said posts for detachablylatching the former to the latter.

2. A shipping container comprising, a first set of side wall sections,angular upright posts at the side edges of said sections,v said postsbeing formed with slots, a second set of side wall sections alternatelyarranged with respect to the wall section of the first named set, meansfor latching the side edges of the wall sections of said second set tosaid posts, a bottom section, upright strips on the wall sections ofsaid first set, projections of said strips for supporting the bottomsection, acentrally hinged top section, tongues projecting from theperipheral face of thetop section on opposite sides of the hingetherefor and extending through said slots in said posts, a rigid stripextending'across the hinge line of the top section, and means forsecuring said rigid strip to said upright strips.

3. A knockdown shipping container comprising, a first set of side wallsections, angle-shaped corner pieces, each having one of its flangessecured to and extending laterally from an end of'a wall section'ofsaidset, a bottom supported of wall sections together, said corner piecesbeing of greater height than said wall sections, a top for seating upona wall section of each of said sets, and means extended from each end ofsaid top and-throughoneof the flanges of each of said corner pieces forlatchingthe latter to said top.

4. A, knockdown shipping container comprising a first set of side wallsections, angle-shaped corner pieces, each having one of its flangessecured to and extending laterally from an end of a' 'wall section-ofsaid set, a bottom supported by said corner pieces, a second set of sideWall sections, said corner pieces and wall sections of the second sethaving coacting means for releasably "connecting the wall sections ofthe two sets of wall sections together, a top, said corner pieces andtop having coacting means for releasably' connecting thetop to the wallsections of the two sets of wall sections, a bracing means encompassingthe wall sections of the first mentioned set, the'said bottom and top,and means for detachably connecting that part'of thebracing-mea'nsfor'said top tothe parts of the bracing means for the wallsections ofthe first mentioned set.

5. Aknockdown shipping container comprising,

a first set of side wall sections, angle-shaped corner pieces,eachhaving one of its flanges secured to and extending laterally from an endof a wall section of said'set, a bottom supported" by said cornerpieces, a second set of side wall sections, said corner pieces and .wallsections of the second set having coacting means for releasablyconnecting the wall sections of thetwo sets of wall sections together, atop, said comer pieces and top having coacting means for releasablyconnecting the top to the wall sections of the two sets of wallsections, a bracing means encompassing the wall sections of the firstmentioned set, the said bottom and top, means for detachably connectingthat part of the bracing means ior said top to the parts of the bracingmeans for the wall sections of the first mentioned set, and said topformed of apair of hinged sections shiftable inwardly upon the pivot ofthe hinged means therefor that portion of the bracing means for the toparresting the outward shifting of the sections of the top,

6. A knockdown shipping container comprising, a'flrst set of side wallsections, angle-shaped corner pieces, each having one of its flangessecured to and extending laterally from an end of a wall section of saidset, a bottom supported by said corner pieces, a second set of side wall1 sections, said corner pieces and wall sections of the second sethaving coacting superposed means for releasably connecting the wallsections of the two sets of wall sections together, said corner piecesbeing of greater height than said wall sections, a top, and spaced meansextended from ing a first set of side wall sections, a second set ofside wall sections, corner pieces formed of a pair of flanges disposedat right angles to each other, said corner pieces having inwardlyextending portions to provide supports, a bottom mounted upon saidsupports, said corner pieces secured to the ends of the wall sections ofthe first mentioned set and extended laterally from such ends, saidcorner pieces having inwardly extending coupling means at the points ofjoinder of the flanges thereof, the wall sections of said second set ofwall sections having means coacting with said coupling means forreleasably connecting the wall sections of said two sets of wallsections together, and corner pieces being of greater height than saidwall sections, the wall sections of the second set being of less heightthan the wall sections of the first set, a top arranged between the wallsections of the flrst set and over the wall sections of the second set,and means carried at each end of said top and extending between thelatter and the wall sections of the second set and through the cornerpieces for releasably connecting the top of the wall sections of thesaid sets.

8. In a knockdown shipping container, two opposed pair of angle-shapedcorner pieces, each corner piece being formed of a pair of flangesdisposed at right angles to each other,

opposed side wall sections, each side wall section being secured to oneof the flanges of a pair of flanges of a corner piece of each pair ofcorner pieces, the flanges secured to said wall sections extendinglaterally from the ends of the secured flanges, opposing saidnon-secured flanges and having means coacting with said coupling meansfor releasably connectingrthe first mentioned opposed side wall sectionstogether, a top, andmeans secured to the top, extending from each end,of the latter and throughthe non-secured flanges of the corner piecesfor detachably connecting the top with the several wall sections. I y

9. In a knockdown shipping container, two opposed pair of angle-shapedcorner pieces, each corner piece being formed of a pair-of flangesdisposed at right angles to each other, opposed side wall sections, eachside wall section being secured to one of the flanges of a pair. offlanges of a corner piece of each pair of i corner pieces,

the flanges secured tosaid wall sections extending laterally from theends of the latter, said .fianges having inherent portions thereofextending inwardly to provide coupling means, a bottom supported by saidcorner pieces, opposed side wall sections positioned between saidsecured flanges, opposing said non-secured flanges and having meanscoacting withsaid coupling means for re-- leasably connecting-the firstmentioned opposed side wall sections together, atop, -means secured tothe top, extending from each end of the latter and through thenon-secured flanges for detachably connecting the top with the severalwall sections, an exteriorly arranged sectional bracing means for thecontainer when set up, and means for releasably connecting the sectionsof the bracing means together.

10. In a knockdown shipping container, angleshaped corner pieces havinginwardly extending portions to provide supports, a bottom for mountingon said supports, a first set of side wall sections for positioning onsaid supports to abut opposed edges of said bottom, a second set of sidewall sections for positioning on said supports to abut opposed edges ofsaid bottom, said corner pieces being secured to the ends of the wallsections of the first named set of side wall sections, extendinglaterally from said ends and for opposing the wall sections of thesecond named set of side wall sections, a top for positioning betweenthe wall sections of thefirst named set of 120 side wall sections andfor seating upon the wall sections of the second named set of side wallsections, said corner pieces and wall sections of the second named setof side wall sections having coacting means for detachably connectingthe side wall sections of said first and second named sets of side wallsections together, and means secured to thetop, extending from eachend'of the latter and through the corner pieces for detachablyconnecting the top with the said several wall sections.

11. In a knockdown shipping, container, angleshaped corner pieces havinginwardly extending portions to provide supports, a bottom for mountingon said supports, a first set of side wall sections for positioning onsaid supports to abut opposed edges of said bottom, a second set of sidewall sections for positioning on said supports to abut opposed edges ofsaid bottom, said corner pieces being secured to the ends of the wallsections of the first named set of side wall sections, extendinglaterally from said ends and for opposing the wall sections of thesecond named set of sidewall sections, a top for positioning between thewall sections of the first named set of side wall sections and forseating upon the wall sections of the second named set of side wallsections, said corner pieces and wall sections of the second named setof said wall sections having coacting means for detachably connectingtogether the side wall sections of the first and second named sets'ofside Wall sections, said corner pieces and top having coacting means fordetachably connecting. said top with the side wall sections of saidfirst andsecond namedsets of side wall sections together, exteriorlyarranged bracing means for the side wallsectionsoi' the first named setof side wall sections and said bottom, exteriorly arranged bracing meansfor said top, andmeans for detachably connecting the bracing. means forthe side wall sections of the first named set of side wall sections tothe bracof said second set, a top section, a bottom section,; and meansextending from each end of said top section at two spaced pointswith'respect to each end of said. top section and coacting with saidcorner pieces for releasably locking the wall sectionsv of each of saidsets of wall sections to said top and bottom sections. t,

13. A shipping container comprising, a first set of side wall sections,angle shaped corner pieces extending from the wall sections of said set.and providedrwith inwardly disposed lugs, a second set of side ,wallsections, the side wall sections ofsaid second set being alternatelyarranged with respect to the side wall sections of said first set,tongues carried by the'side wall sections of .said second set andextending through said lugsfor detachably connecting the side wallsections of said first set to the sidewall sections of said. second set,a top section, a bottom section,.means extending from each end ofsaidtop section at two spaced points withrespectpto each end'of said topsection and coacting with said corner. pieces for releasably locking thewall sections of eachof said sets of wall section to said topand bottomsections, and means for locking said'top section to said bottom section.I

V 1 1 v HOWARD L. SMITH.

